White Saw City Grow

Pioneer Who Passed Yesterday Walked to Lewiston from Walla Walla - Furnished Logs for Lapwai Fort.

In the passing of George Henry White, which occurred from old age at the old family home, 0204 Twenty-fourth street, at 1:10 a.m. yesterday, another of the city's residents who witnessed Lewiston's growth from an almost inconsequential village to a small city of great industrial importance, was called. The transition was observed by Mr. White long after he had reached his majority. Not only did he witness the development of the city he had adopted as a home, but the entire central Idaho and eastern Washington regions as well.

Mr. White was born in Old Town, Maine, Oct. 5, 1847, and had he lived little less than one month longer he would have reached the age of 81. It was in 1868 that he landed in Lewiston. Leaving his home in the east, he traveled as best he could westward and enjoyed the distinction of having reached Boise on the first train that entered that city. From Boise he found his way to Walla Walla.

His uncle, Major George A. Manning, was a resident of Lewiston along with other members of that family, and this city was Mr. White's objective. At Walla Walla he learned that the stage would not leave for this city for two days and he then set out and walked the distance.

Furnished Logs for Fort.

For a number of years after taking up his residence in Lewiston he was engaged in logging on the Clearwater river, an occupation he had followed in his native state. During the Indian war of 1877 and afterward, Mr. White was employed by the government to furnish logs and lumber to the garrison at Fort Lapwai, at that time holding a large number of troops. He at one time conducted the old Chapman lumber mill near Big Island in Clearwater county.

Following his marriage to Miss Evelyn Giffen, daughter of a pioneer family of this city, he located on a homestead in what is now the Tammany region. Later the family took up their residence on Main street near Sixteenth and 34 years ago moved to the Twenty-fourth street address where he died.

He was a man of fine character and one not known to possess an enemy. His benefactions in earlier days reached many sources. For 13 years he was a valued employee of the city water department, a position he relinquished about five years ago, and in this capacity he served the municipality honorable and painstakingly.

Ill for Two Years.

Mr. White was taken sick about two years ago, later having a paralytic stroke. In June he was forced to his bed. During the time he was going through his last illness he bore up with a fortitude and when the end came it was as if he was in a sound sleep.

Surviving are a widow, one son, Charles H. White, Port Angeles, Wash., three daughters, Mrs. Tipton Hemlen and Mrs. Ed S. Decker, both of Lewiston, and Mrs. Emma Wang, of Trout Lake, Wash., and one brother, Ed White, of Lewiston Orchards, and four grandchildren.